The following are course topics with the goals of each topic. To achieve
these goals, the student is expected to review the assigned readings and
lectures, and participate in the Penn Memory Center.

Course Topics

The epidemiology, differential
diagnosis and clinical course of dementia

Describe the pathology,
clinical presentation and course of dementia

Understand the controversies
and changing concepts in the nosology of dementia

The work up of cognitive
complaints

Have the skills to perform
an office-based assessment of the patient with cognitive complaints

Understand the domains
of cognitive function

Understand the instruments
available to measure the domains of cognitive function

Understand the tests
available and that may become available to diagnose dementia

The treatment of patients
with dementia: primary treatment

Understand the difference
between disease slowing and symptomatic treatments for dementia

Be able to describe
the symptoms of dementia

Be able to identify
effective treatments for dementia

The treatment of patients
with dementia: management of neuropsychiatric symptoms

Understand the spectrum
of common neuropsychiatric symptoms

Understand the role
of medications and non-medication strategy in the treatment of neuropsychiatric
symptoms

The treatment of patients
with dementia: bioethical issues and caregiving

Describe the four roles
of the caregiver of the patient with dementia

Understand the impact
of dementia on each of the caregivers’ roles

Understand the standards
for assessing a patient’s decision-making capacity

Develop strategies to
practice effective decision-making with caregivers and patients:
focus on decisions about treatment, research, end-of-life care and
driving.

Methods to Achieve Course Topics

Participation in Penn Memory Center:

Week
1:

Observe psychometric testing and assessment of patient and review test scoring
and interpretation and physical exam

Week 2:

Observe follow-up and initial patient visits, and review the structure of an interview
with a knowledgeable informant

Week 3:

Perform and dictate a patient assessment

Week 4:

Perform and dictate a patient assessment

Students will provide Carol Edwards with their contact information so
they can receive results of the diagnostic work-up of their patients that
become available after they complete their clinic rotation.

The following are the instructional materials organized by topic. The student is responsible for reading and viewing these materials in their off-clinic time. The papers and lectures are available via the ADC Web site. The links for these papers and the PowerPoint lecture on staging are “causes,” “diagnosis,” and “treatment and disease management” under the heading “Understanding Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias.”